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Police Searching for Albert Lea Hotel Robbery Suspects

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Police are searching for two men following an armed robbery at an Albert Lea hotel Monday night.

The robbery took place at the Holiday Inn Express located on East Main Street, just off Interstate 35 near Trails rest stop.

Two males entered the business around 11 p.m. Monday night, displayed a handgun to employees and left with an undisclosed but minimal amount of cash. No hotel guests were in the lobby at the time of the incident and no employees were injured.

With the help of the Minnesota State Patrol and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office a perimeter was set but no suspects were located. Austin’s K-9 unit was brought in to track the men but the scent ended in the parking lot causing police to believe the suspects fled in a car.

The Holiday Inn Express is located less than a mile from a liquor store robbed in August. Police believe the close proximity to the interstate may have influence on why these businesses were targeted, but at this time do not believe the two robberies are connected.

"The thing with those locations is it’s really close to the interstate, it’s perceived as an easy way to get out of town; and so it does make sense that these types of incidents are occurring in locations like that,” says JD Carlson of the Albert Lea Police Department.

We spoke with hotel management who says the lobby does have security cameras and the authorities are currently analyzing the footage for a better description of the individuals.

If you have any information about the robbery you are requested to call the Albert Lea Police Department at 507-377-5210.